Private Bank Schretlen & Co, Amsterdam

Head of IT

1992 - 2000

 

After studying financial economics, I took my first job in 1992 at the Schretlen & Co securities bank in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a subsidiary of Rabobank, this private bank was in a transformation process to establish itself at the forefront of the emerging private banking market in the Netherlands. The aim was to expand the pure processing of securities transactions to include comprehensive advice on asset management and financial planning.


The bank initially only had 25 employees and thus a startup atmosphere. The next 8 years were characterized by constant change and massive growth. The number of employees increased tenfold during this period, and four more locations were opened. The IT department I founded grew to 12 people.

 

Achievements

  • Further development of the core banking system for securities processing and asset management

  • Implementation of numerous projects, including the connection of the core banking system to the systems of the securities exchange, the derivatives exchange and the Central Institute for Securities Settlement, the introduction of the euro and the Millennium

  • Ensuring the continuity and security of the entire ICT infrastructure, consisting of network, language infrastructure, core banking systems, data warehouse, web applications and office applications

  • Introduction of ITIL-based processes for operation and support

What I’ve learned

  • How to get a team extremely motivated

  • The energy and the fun to work in such an environment

  • Dealing with conflicts

  • Sincere and consistent leadership

  • Coaching

  • Dealing with changes, extreme dynamics and pressure

  • Medium-sized entrepreneurship and customer orientation

IBM Germany, Hamburg

Project Manager

2000 - 2007

After about 7 years with my first employer, I started thinking about a change, even though I was more than satisfied with the job, the employer and the working conditions. Due to the strong growth of the company, there were various IT projects that I outsourced as a client. Here I developed a fascination for the project business. In addition, my thirst for adventure demanded to see more of the world outside.


So the idea arose to switch to the provider side in order to gain deeper knowledge and experience in the field of IT project management. So at the end of 2000, after 8.5 extremely exciting and instructive years, I changed to the world market leader in the IT business IBM and emigrated to Germany.

The change from a medium-sized Dutch company to an American global corporation was quite a shock. However the professionalism and ambition that prevailed felt familiar. There were many exciting complex projects with an international character and staffed with top-class experienced specialists. Each project therefore offered exactly what I was looking for; a gain in new knowledge, experience and skills.

 
 

Achievements

  • Successful project implementation in various industries such as banking, insurance, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals (more on this here)
  • PMI certification
  • Management of international and interdisciplinary project teams with up to 30 employees
  • My work results have been recorded several times in the worldwide IBM experience database “Intellectual Capital”

What I’ve learned

  • Solid training in project management through international courses and intensive mentoring

  • Training in system development methodology with regard to system architecture, development processes, deployment and test processes

  • Cooperation with very experienced IT experts and project managers from all over the world

  • Access to worldwide project experience reports and white papers

  • Work in a global enterprise environment

  • Stakeholder management

Independant IT Consultant

2008 - now

The thought of self-employment had been on my mind for quite some time. After 7 very instructive and highly intensive years at IBM, I then fulfilled my dream and ventured into the business world as an independent IT-consultant.


Here I have been able to deepen my existing industry experience further and gain new knowledge in the field of biometrics and public service. I extended my international experience with successful projects in Africa and Asia. Furthermore I’ve gained extensive experience in dealing with public project-tenders.

 
 

Achievements

  • Successful execution of projects in financial services, telecommunications and public service (more on this here)

  • ISTQB certification

  • Management of international and interdisciplinary project teams with up to 40 employees

  • Successful filling of line positions (interim management)

  • Proposals for large international public projects tenders

What I’ve learned

  • Agile methods such as Scrum and Kanban

  • Acting in complex matrix environments at banks

  • Work in Arab and Asian cultures